Summer 2022 Updates

June 10, 2022

Dear Students and Parents,

We are moving forward with our program planning in Spain, France, and Italy, and we look forward to welcoming you aboard. Please find below some information regarding Covid and travel to Europe.

 

Spain

According to the Spanish Health Ministry, passengers arriving from non-EU countries (e.g. the U.S.) would need to have one of the following:

      1. Vaccination certificate. For students under 18, the vaccination certificate has no expiry date; for adults, the vaccination must have been received no more than 270 days, or 9 months, prior to departure.
      2. Negative test certificate. A diagnostic test (sample collection) must have been performed within 72 hours prior to departure for Spain for NAAT (nucleic acid amplification tests, e.g. RT-PCR, RT-LAMP, TMA); or 24 hours for RAT (rapid antigen test), the result of which has been negative.
      3. Certificate of recovery from Covid-19. A person is considered to have recovered from COVID-19, after the disease has passed, provided that more than 11 days have elapsed since the first positive NAAT or RAT was performed, and this recovery shall be valid for 180 days thereafter.

(Source: Spain Travel Health Site).

To check if your certificate is valid, please go to: https://www.spth.gob.es/ 

You can also download the Spain Travel Health App prior to departure and fill out the appropriate form to get a QR code. We highly recommend doing it prior to the travel date since it may be much less comfortable to fill out this form at the airport, and you may need some extra time in case of any problems with the form. Once you get your information entered and receive a QR code you are all set.

      1. Review the information from the Spain Travel Health Portal: https://www.spth.gob.es/more
      2. Download the SPTH App on your smartphone
      3. Within 72 hours prior to arrival in Spain, fill out the FCS Formand generate a QR code using the App or the following webpage: https://www.spth.gob.es/create
      4. (Recommended) Bring proof of vaccinationcompleted at least 14 days prior to your trip.
      5. Please check with your medical insurance providerto confirm that your policy covers you while traveling abroad(including medical coverage for Covid-related conditions, medical evacuation, etc.) If you do not have such coverage, please alert Abbey Road staff members and we will look into purchasing coverage for you.

Remember that the form on the app needs to be filled out within 72 hours prior to arrival in Spain. Do not put it off until the day of travel: fill out the form and generate a QR code at least a day prior to travel. We will be following up with you to keep this in mind.

Here are some additional resources:

Consulate of Spain in New York

US Embassy Covid-19 Information

Re-Open EU Web Platform

CDC Information on Travel and Covid

State Department Travel Advisory

 

France

According to the latest update from the French Ministry of the Interior, the United States is now on the “green” list for the French authorities. This means that our students from the U.S. would need to have one of the following:

      1. Vaccination certificate (“complete certificate“). For students under 18, the vaccination certificate has no expiry date; for adults, the vaccination must have been received no more than 270 days, or 9 months, prior to departure.The vaccination schedule is considered complete 28 days after receiving one dose of Janssen vaccine, seven days after a second dose of other vaccines approved by the European Medicines Agency (namely Pfizer/Comirnaty, Moderna, AstraZeneca/Vaxzevria/Covishield) and, for persons who have received all the required doses of a WHO-licensed vaccine not approved by the European Medicines Agency, seven days after receiving an additional dose of a duly approved mRNA vaccine.
      2. Negative test certificate. Negative PCR test result taken less than 72 hours before the flight or a negative antigen test result taken less than 48 hours before departure (departure of the first flight in the event of a connection)
      3. Certificate of recovery (positive result of a PCR or antigen test carried out more than eleven days and less than six months prior to traveling). This certificate is only valid for a period of six months from the date of the examination or test.

Source: Consulate of France in New York

Here is the latest update on the necessary steps you need to take to travel to France this summer.

      1. Please fill out the EU Passenger Locator Formand obtain a QR Code. (Visitors from “orange” countries must complete the éOS-COVID form.) Additional information on the EU PLF can be found here.
      2. Bring a physical copy of the vaccination card. The vaccine must be approved by the European Medicines Agency(Pfizer, Moderna, Johnson & Johnson, and others).
      3. Please check with your medical insurance provider to confirm that your policy covers you while traveling abroad (including medical coverage for Covid-related conditions, medical evacuation, etc.) If you do not have such coverage, please alert Abbey Road staff members and we will look into purchasing coverage for you.
      4. Since March 2022, the Vaccine Pass is no longer required to enter indoor public areas such as restaurants, cafes, museums, etc.

Here are some additional resources:

US Embassy Covid-19 Information

Information from the French Consulate in New York

Re-Open EU Web Platform

CDC Information on Travel and Covid

State Department Travel Advisory

 

Italy

According to the latest update from the Italian Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, after the 1st of June, 2022, the Green Pass or other certifying documents are no longer required to enter Italy from foreign countries. This means that our students will not need to show a vaccination certificate to travel to Italy. However, we advise you to bring your vaccination certificate with you anyway in the case of any future changes in this policy.

Here are some additional resources you may want to review:

Travel Safe by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Italy

Italian Ministry of Health

US Embassy in Rome

Italian Embassy in Washington, DC

Some information from Air France

Travel Advisories from Ita Airways

Re-Open EU Web Platform

CDC Information on Travel and Covid

State Department Travel Advisory

Please let us know if you have further questions for us and it will be our pleasure to assist you.